Combat has been one of the most common activities in video games since their inception. Most of the time, it involves guns, melee weapons, or just your trusty fists.
However, if you’re frolicking through a fantasy realm, they instead involve spell-slinging and a lot of special effects. This is the aspect we’re going to focus on in this list.
There are many games out there that have the players dabble in magic. A lot of the time, it can be as simple as selecting a spell from a menu, but sometimes, it can be as interesting as crafting your own spells or even casting them by drawing runes.
Let’s look at some of the best or most interesting magic combat systems in gaming.
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10Forspoken
The Game’s Saving Grace
Let’s be honest,Forspokenhas its fair share of issues, butit also does a couple of things undeniably well. Namely the movement and the spellcasting-based combat.
Fighting enemies with the game’s flashy magic combat system is always fun, with the game encouraging the player to switch up the elements used to maximize damage while filling the screen with particle effects.
It never gets too deep though, and that’s a shame because more focus on these mechanics and enemy variety could have been what elevated the game from mediocrity.
We can only hope that Square-Enix takes this system to other, better titles to make it really shine.
9Wizard of Legend
The Fastest Spellslinger
Wizard Of Legend
Wizard of Legend is a game that knows exactly what it wants to be: fast, flashy, and all about magic.
It throws you into the Chaos Trials with a hefty arsenal of spells to play with, encouraging you to experiment and find creative combos. The result? Combat that feels fast-paced, satisfying, and downright addictive.
Sure, the game isn’t perfect and could use a bit more variety, but the moment-to-moment gameplay is so engaging thatit’s hard to put down.
Even better, there’s a sequel in the works, promising to build on everything the original got right and take it to the next level.
8Dark Messiah of Might and Magic
Magic That JustFeelsRight
Dark Messiah Of Might And Magic
When you think of Dark Messiah of Might and Magic, it’s hard not to picture the sheer joy of kicking enemies off ledges or into spike traps. While the melee combat gets most of the spotlight, the magic system deserves just as much love for how brilliantly it uses physics to create chaos.
There’s nothing quite like using Telekinesis to grab an enemy and fling them across the room like you wield the gravity gun from Half-Life 2.
Or, if you prefer, hurl a fireball into a group of enemies and watch them scatter like bowling pins. Or maybe freeze the ground beneath their feet and watch them slip, slide, and plummet into the abyss. It’s the kind of creative, over-the-top fun that never gets old.
7The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind
Make Your Own Chaos
The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind
Combat in The Elder Scrolls games has never been praised for its complexity—it’s often a matter of clicking until you or your enemy are dead.
But when it comes to magic, it’s a completely different story. The wide arsenal of spells opens up endless creative possibilities, andThe Elder Scrolls III: Morrowindtakes this to the apex with its incredible spell-crafting system.
In Morrowind, mages can combine existing spells to create entirely new ones, using the souls of defeated enemies as conduits. This system allows for some truly game-breaking and wildly inventive strategies.
Tired of those charging Nords with their massive battleaxes? Craft a spell that makes every enemy in the area levitate, leaving them floating helplessly. Feeling lonely? Summon a small army of Atronachs for an impromptu magical party.
Want to go all out? Go back to basics and create a fireball spell that also deals ice and lightning damage, then fly above your enemies and rain destruction from above.
The possibilities are as limitless as your imagination, making Morrowind’s magic system not just powerful, buta playground for creativity.
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6Lichdom: Battlemage
Particles Everywhere
What if you took the customization potential of Morrowind and built a game entirely around magic, ditching swords, shields, and all the usual trappings? That’s exactly what Lichdom: Battlemage sets out to do—and it delivers a spellcasting experience like no other.
In Lichdom: Battlemage, you craft your own spells, tweaking their effects and combining elements to create devastatingly powerful abilities.
Whether you’re hurling explosive fireballs, freezing hordes of enemies in place, or summoning meteors to rain destruction, every spell feels impactful and satisfying. And because it’s played from a first-person perspective, the spectacle is just delicious.
While Lichdom might not have the polish of some AAA titles, its spellcasting combat’s sheer creativity and chaos make it a must-play for anyone who’s dreamed of becoming a true battlemage.
Do Cross the Beams
Let’s dip our toes in the co-op world for a moment.Magickais a top-down action game that lets up to four players band together, flinging spells left and right as they journey toward the big bad at the end of the story. But don’t expect your typical spell list here—Magicka is all about making magic on the fly.
Instead of fixed spells or crafting, players summon magic using eight elemental inputs, each tied to a specific key. Combine elements in different ways, and you’ll create new spells with wildly varied effects.
From simple fireballs and frost rays to magma pillars and thunderstorms—or even defensive shields. Memorizing your favorite combos and executing them in the heat of battle feels like playing a magical symphony, your keyboard becoming your instrument.
But tread carefully: friendly fire is always on, and it’s bound to result in catastrophic (and hilarious) accidents.
4Path of Exile
Endless Magical Possibilities
Path of Exile
Path of Exileisrenowned for its vast upgrade system,and the magic side of things is no less impressive. It offers one of the deepest and most customizable spellcasting systems in gaming, encouraging creativity and experimentation at every turn.
At the heart of the system are support gems, which modify your skills in unique ways. Want your magic projectiles to scatter into a flurry of smaller attacks? Done. Prefer to turn a single-target spell into a massive area-of-effect blast? Easy.
These gems allow for endless combinations, letting you tailor your spells to your playstyle and crafting abilities that feel uniquely yours.
The result is absolute chaos in the best way possible. Hordes of undead swarming the battlefield or elemental blasts erupting in every direction are commonplace—an eye-popping display of destruction that’s as satisfying to watch as it is to unleash.
3Arx Fatalis
Spells That Feel Hands-On
Arx Fatalis
Ever wanted to feel like a real wizard while playing as one? Arx Fatalis might be the closest you can get to that experience.
This old-school RPG doesn’t hand you spells on a platter. Instead, it uses a rune system where each rune has a meaning, and combining them creates spells with effects based on the runes you chose. For instance, pairing the “improve” rune with the “sight” rune grants your character night vision.
What truly sets Arx Fatalis apart is its immersive approach to casting. You don’t just select runes from a menu—you physically draw them on the screen with your mouse, mimicking a wizard tracing symbols in the air.
The system takes some time to get used to, but that’s part of the magic. You’re not just memorizing combinations; you’re embodying the role of a spellcaster, juggling runes in the heat of battle and relying on your wits rather than the character’s stats.
It’s this player-driven responsibility that creates some ofthe most engaging and immersive moments in gaming.
2Baldur’s Gate 3
D&D Magic Without Restraints
Baldur’s Gate 3
Baldur’s Gate 3has been a once-in-a-generation success, excelling on multiple fronts. Larian Studios faced the daunting challenge of translating the complexity of tabletop Dungeons & Dragons into a video game.
Instead of rigidly adhering to the source material, they made thoughtful changes to enhance the gameplay, particularly for magical classes.
In the tabletop version, you’re limited in how many leveled spells you can cast per turn. In Baldur’s Gate 3, those restrictions are gone.
With the right feat or class, you can throw two fireballs per turn or put a group of enemies to sleep while barraging another with magic missiles. When you combine that freedom with mechanics like metamagic, spellcasting suddenly feels limitless.
This change also makes multiclassing incredibly fun. Pair your mage with a Fighter or Rogue to gain extra actions and bonus actions, letting your character devastate enemies with a flurry of spells while having access to martial options as backup.
The balance between accessibility and complexity makes Baldur’s Gate 3’s spellcasting one of the most satisfying in gaming, giving players the power to truly feel like arcane powerhouses.
The Epitome of Chaos
There’s truly nothing likeNoitaon the market, and that’s a rare achievement for any game. In this 2D roguelite, the entire environment is simulated down to each pixel in real-time, creating a world where your actions—and often your mistakes—can have devastating consequences.
A stray spark can ignite a fire, a misplaced shot might collapse a roof, and before you know it, it’s back to the main screen for you.
At the heart of Noita is its wand-tinkering system. You’ll attach spells to your wands, which will have different effects depending on the wand and the order in which you place them. The result is explosive, unpredictable combat where every fight feels like a high-stakes experiment.
The tension is constant as you battle waves of enemies while the world around you literally crumbles, often due to your own hubris.
It’s a game that rewards creativity as much as it punishes recklessness, forcing you to stay sharp while keeping the gameplay fast and fun.
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